Question

NITROGEN ATOMS: these have 7 protons. Thus what form of hydrogenated nitrogen should exist? How many electrons are shared when combining two N atoms to make nitrogen gas?

Answer 1

Nitrogen atoms bond with three hydrogen atoms to form ammonia, sharing three pairs of electrons to create single covalent bonds. Two nitrogen atoms share three pairs of electrons between them to form a stable and unreactive molecule of nitrogen gas through a triple covalent bond.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the bonding behavior of nitrogen when it forms different compounds, such as diatomic nitrogen gas (N₂) and ammonia (NH₃). Nitrogen atoms have 7 electrons, with 5 in their valence electrons shell. When nitrogen atoms bond with hydrogen atoms to form ammonia, three hydrogen atoms are needed. Each hydrogen atom shares its one electron with nitrogen to fill up nitrogen's valence shell to satisfy the octet rule. This results in three single covalent bonds forming NH₃.

When two nitrogen atoms bond to form nitrogen gas (N₂), they share three pairs of electrons, resulting in a triple covalent bond. This triple bond is very strong and makes diatomic nitrogen a stable and relatively unreactive molecule.